Hadestown drops incoming lead Geno Segers after his anti-transgender videos resurface online

The Broadway production of Hadestown has parted ways with actor Geno Segers, who had been set to join the show as Hades on September 1. The decision, announced on Sunday, came after online videos in which Segers commented on transgender people resurfaced and drew backlash.

The departure

In a brief statement, the producers said they and Segers had "mutually agreed that Mr. Segers will no longer join the Broadway production." No reason was given, and the announcement did not include a statement from Segers. The show added that additional casting would be announced shortly. Segers did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The videos

Clips shared by the theater publication OnStage Blog, reportedly from Segers's YouTube page, showed the actor making a series of comments about transgender people. In one, he said he was not against anyone living their lives as they wish but objected to their rights "superseding the rights of other people."

“I'm not against anyone living out their lives the way they want, but I am against their rights superseding the rights of other people. That's a little bit foul.”

He added that he did not see transgender people as oppressed. In another clip, Segers criticized the practice of asking for preferred pronouns and likened transgender people to individuals pretending their pets are service animals to obtain airfare discounts.

“If you asked me what my preferred pronouns are and it's not obvious to you that I'm a he/him, that I'm good with he/him, surely you don't need any help. I'm not wearing a dress.”

Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter also noted that Segers had expressed opposition to trans women participating in women's sports. It was not clear when the videos were recorded. Segers made his Instagram account private and removed videos from his YouTube channel sometime after the new cast was announced on July 30.

The production

Hadestown, written by Anaïs Mitchell and directed by Rachel Chavkin, has been running at the Walter Kerr Theater for seven years. The musical retells the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice with a New Orleans-style blues and jazz score and won eight Tony Awards in 2019, including best musical. Segers was to star opposite Amber Iman as Persephone, Jasmin Savoy Brown as Eurydice, Kayko as Orpheus, and Norbert Leo Butz as Hermes.

Segers's career

Segers began his stage career as Mufasa in Disney's Australian production of The Lion King and later appeared in the New York City Center Encores! production of On the Town. On television, he played Mason Makoola on Pair of Kings and Chayton Littleton on Banshee, with additional credits including Yellowstone, Teen Wolf, Longmire, Castle, and Perfect Harmony.